Jaren Hinckley

(1905-1987)

 

Since it is December and Christmas is nearing, I thought I’d do a post on one of my favorite Christmas carols.  I was introduced to this piece by a good friend of mine, who was then the director of our church congregation’s choir.  It was tricky for a volunteer choir, filled with amateur singers (including myself) to navigate some of the close harmonies of this piece but we managed and I’ve loved it ever since.

 

TITLE:  Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE PIECE:  The text was written in the 1700’s by an unknown poet.  The comparison of Christ to an apple tree is not the most common analogy we hear, but may come from the Song of Solomon.  In any event, it is a comparison that I now love.  Here is the text:

 

The tree of life my soul hath seen,

Laden with fruit and always green:

The tree of life my soul hath seen,

Laden with fruit and always green:

The trees of nature fruitless be

Compared with Christ the apple tree.

 

His beauty doth all things excel:

By faith I know, but ne’er can tell,

His beauty doth all things excel:

By faith I know, but ne’er can tell

The glory which I now can see

In Jesus Christ the apple tree.

 

For happiness I long have sought,

And pleasure dearly I have bought:

For happiness I long have sought,

And pleasure dearly I have bought:

I missed of all; but now I see

’Tis found in Christ the apple tree.

 

I’m weary with my former toil,

Here I will sit and rest a while:

I’m weary with my former toil,

Here I will sit and rest a while:

Under the shadow I will be,

Of Jesus Christ the apple tree.

 

This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,

It keeps my dying faith alive:

This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,

It keeps my dying faith alive:

Which makes my soul in haste to be

With Jesus Christ the apple tree.

 

And here is a link to a YouTube video of a very talented choir performing it:

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm3fZDZxiko

 

 

HIGHLIGHT:   It’s such a short piece, I guess the highlight for me is the effectiveness of beginning and ending the piece with monophonic texture.  So simple, so pure, and it really bookends the amazing close harmonies of the middle verses.

 

WHAT’S LEFT TO LISTEN TO BY POSTON?:  I don’t know.  The problem with lesser-known composers is that there isn’t a lot of information about them on the various music databases I use in my research.  I know she composed music for television, radio and film productions, but finding recordings may be difficult.  In any event, I think she’s worth seeking out.